Wife of Lagos state Governor, Mrs. Bolanle
Ambode on Thursday, August 6, tasked working class nursing mothers on
diligent and exclusive breastfeeding of their babies, in order to
commemorate the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week, in Lagos.
Mrs. Ambode made this call at a symposium organized by the department
of community Health and Primary Health Care, in collaboration with
Pediatrics Department of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
(LASUTH), Ikeja Lagos.
She said while medical science has established the fact that breast milk supplies the much needed nutrients to the new born baby, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that exclusive breastfeeding, starting within one hour after birth, until a baby is six months old and has also been documented to be the most important source of protein to a growing baby.
Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pensions Office Mrs. Ademola Olabowale, listed the benefits of breastfeeding to include boosting the immunity of the new born baby, good mental development, as well as healthy physical growth, stressing that women could not practice exclusive breastfeeding under stringent work conditions.
She disclosed that “the World Breastfeeding week calls for global action, whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting. It is necessary to combine breastfeeding and work”.
She lauded the Lagos State Government for being the only state in Nigeria to have reviewed maternity leave from three to six months and also introduced paternity leave in order to encourage men to support their wives at home during the period.
In a similar forum, Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by the wife of the former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Parastatal Monitoring Office, Mrs. Ladun Ogunbanwo at the official launch of “Vitafoam Earlydays Breastfeeding Cover and Pillow“, commended the entire board, management and staff of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, for partnering over the years with the State government to promote maternal and child health.
Mrs Ambode during a charity visit in Epe
She said while medical science has established the fact that breast milk supplies the much needed nutrients to the new born baby, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that exclusive breastfeeding, starting within one hour after birth, until a baby is six months old and has also been documented to be the most important source of protein to a growing baby.
Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pensions Office Mrs. Ademola Olabowale, listed the benefits of breastfeeding to include boosting the immunity of the new born baby, good mental development, as well as healthy physical growth, stressing that women could not practice exclusive breastfeeding under stringent work conditions.
She disclosed that “the World Breastfeeding week calls for global action, whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting. It is necessary to combine breastfeeding and work”.
She lauded the Lagos State Government for being the only state in Nigeria to have reviewed maternity leave from three to six months and also introduced paternity leave in order to encourage men to support their wives at home during the period.
In a similar forum, Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by the wife of the former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Parastatal Monitoring Office, Mrs. Ladun Ogunbanwo at the official launch of “Vitafoam Earlydays Breastfeeding Cover and Pillow“, commended the entire board, management and staff of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, for partnering over the years with the State government to promote maternal and child health.
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